Serena's eyes opened and she blinked as the harsh glare of sunlight hit her. Letting out a groan, she suddenly remembered where she was and looked for Dan. She found the spot next to her empty, the sheets drawn back.
She walked towards her suitcase, surprised to see that it was empty. Making her way to the closet, she opened it and was pleasantly surprised that everything was in there. She rifled through the closet, looking for a robe. At last, she found her gold silk robe, slipping it on. Tightening it, she strode out, walking down the stairs.
"Breakfast?" Dan asked, buttering a piece of bread. On the kitchen table there was a very large assortment of various pastries, beverages and other breakfast foods. "I didn't know what you liked so I..kinda made and ordered a lot of different things."
"Thank you," She murmured, sitting down and pulling a croissant onto her plate. It was early in the morning and she wasn't in the mood to be mean. "So what are we doing today?"
He raised an eyebrow at her over his coffee mug. Setting it down, he cleared his throat. "I didn't know you wanted to hang out with me."
"Well if you have plans, maybe next time." Her smile was fake as she grinned at him.
"Actually, I was going to decorate the library. I don't know how much fun that sounds, but if you want, you could join me."
"Sure," She murmured. "Should I get dressed or should I stay like this?"
Dan glanced her from head to toe, brown eyes alight. "Well as ravishing as you look right now, I would suggest changing. We're going to be painting."
She finished the last bit of her croissant, getting up. "Be back in a second."
"Oh take your time." He called, watching the way her hips swung underneath the robe.
--
"So we have to paint this entire room?" Serena said, looking at the huge library.
"That's the plan." Dan muttered, unbuttoning on his shirt.
"I thought we were painting, not stripping." She murmured, glancing at his upper torso.
"Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor." He remarked dryly, tossing his wifebeater next to his button down. "I'd rather not get my clothes dirty."
"Well that's a shame, because I plan on wearing your shirt so I don't get dirty." She smirked, pulling out a dark blue long sleeved button down. "Turn around," she ordered, whipping off her top when he did.
"You know, its nothing I haven't seen before." He replied, a flirty tone in his voice that she had never heard before. He had been so reserved when she had talked to him, she didn't know that this side of his existed.
He snuck a peek at her, checking to see if she was done. He was surprised to see the back of the shirt fluttering up, revealing an ugly bruise decorating her side. It stretched from her upper body to her hip and he wondered how he hadn't noticed the mess of purple and green before.
"I thought I told you not to look." She murmured, following his gaze.
"How.."
"I'm clumsy," she lied, face turning red. "I fell and I hit something."
"Your mother mentioned someone named Anthony." Dan said, slipping back into the formality he had been taught. "Did he do this?"
Serena held his gaze for a minute or so before looking down. "Aren't we supposed to be painting?"
He sighed, handing her a roller. He dumped blue paint into the container, handing it to her. "Do you want to go on the ladder or should I?"
"I'll do it," She muttered, already halfway up the ladder. She climbed steadily, dripping roller in one hand. About to step on the next step, her foot slipped, propelling her backwards.
She shrieked, arms flailing about, blue paint spilling everywhere. Dan dropped his roller, sprinting to the other side of the room. Thinking on his feet, he slid, catching Serena in his arms as he hit the wall with a loud thud. Breathing heavily, he brushed back wisps of her hair back from her face. "Are you okay?"
She panted for air, clutching onto his bare arms tightly. "I don't know." She breathed, burying her face into his shoulder. "Oh my god."
"Hey, you're okay." He whispered, rubbing her back. "I got you. You're safe."
"Yeah," she murmured, still shaken from the fall. "Thank you."
He rose to his feet, still holding her in his arms. "Let's get you some cleaned up and I'll hire someone to paint." He said, referring to the paint that had left marks on her face. Carrying her to the bathroom, he stood her up by the wall, running a bath for her. He soaked a towel in warm water, wiping the paint off of her face. "You okay?"
Serena shook her head, blue eyes still wide. "That was so.."
"Scary? Yeah, I know." He put down the towel, satisfied. "The bath's done and I think it'd be wise if you relaxed for a while."
"Yeah, okay." She mumbled, reachign for the buttons of the shirt. Her fingers were shaking so badly that she fumbled with the buttons, not managing to get even one undone.
He stepped forward, hands outstretched. "Here." Slowly, he undid each button, pushing the shirt from her shoulders. He reached down for her jeans, unbuttoning them as well. He slid them down her lithe legs, his face a dull pink. He turned her around, trying to unclasp her bra.
She shivered as his hot breath hit her neck. She had never been touched so delicately before, it was if he was afraid she was going to break if he was too rough. Anthony had never been like that. "My eyes are closed." She heard him say and despite the situation, couldn't help but giggle.
Her bra fell to the floor, her panties joining quickly. Quickly, she got into the bath, not wanting him to see the other marks on her body. "Thanks."
His eyes opened, and he smiled at her. "My pleasure." With that, he blushed again. "Not that I was enjoying it or anything, and-"
"Its okay." She winked at him as he left the room, blushing furiously. There was something so cute about that man.
